SAGINAW, MI — Though small and inexpensive, smoke detectors can provide an early warning that a house is on fire and have saved lives in the past, according to Saginaw fire officials.

A federal grant will enable Saginaw City residents who reside in the City of Saginaw to get free smoke detectors, delivered and installed by the Saginaw City Fire Department.

On Monday, April 14, the Saginaw Fire Department received the first shipment of 10,000 smoke detectors to be distributed, Fire Marshal Ralph Martin said. The smoke detectors come with a 10-year lithium battery that cannot be removed.

The Saginaw Fire Department will come and install smoke detectors in all the correct locations in resident’s homes, Martin said. The smoke detectors are free to city residents and the installation will include a safety evaluation of your home and escape routes.

Smoke alarms save lives

In his six years as a fire marshal, Martin said he does not remember any cases of a death of someone in a home with working smoke detectors.

He offered the following information provided by the National Fire Protection Association:

• When the alarm sounds, get out and stay out. Go to your meeting place and call 911 from your cell phone or neighbor’s phone.

• Two-thirds of fire deaths resulted from fires in properties without working smoke detectors

• The risk of dying in home structure fires is cut in half with working smoke detectors

• Smoke alarm failures usually result from missing or dead batteries

For more information or to sign up to receive free smoke detectors, call the Saginaw Fire Department at 989-759-1393.